Tristan Weraiko&nbspSullivan

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Full Name

Tristan Weraiko Sullivan

Background

Background From NZ Lawyer May 2007 A 77-year-old woman in bed connected to her oxygen supply "ran like a 20-year-old" from her burning home during an arson attack, a court was told today. Tristan Sullivan, 22, of Porirua appeared in Wellington District Court for sentencing on one charge of arson. He had pleaded guilty but then a disputed facts hearing was held as he had said he was not the principal offender. Judge Susan Thomas ruled Sullivan was in fact the principal offender. Judge Thomas today said Shirley Nancarrow, now 78, was in bed in her unit in Redwood Retirement Village, Tawa, on September 25 last year at 11.30pm. Sullivan lit a rag in a bottle full of gasoline, then threw it through Mrs Nancarrow's kitchen window and ran from the scene. The victim heard an explosion and saw her house filled with smoke. She saw flames engulf the edge of her kitchen and lounge.

"She may be 78 but she ran like a 20-year-old," Judge Thomas said. Mrs Nancarrow suffered cuts to her feet but refused to go to hospital, where she had recently spent time, as she wanted to keep her independence. The unit was gutted. It was covered by insurance but some items such as photos, were irreplaceable, Judge Thomas said. Mrs Nancarrow was angered and disgusted by the attack and believed she should be able to live in her own home and feel safe and secure, she said in a victim impact statement. Sullivan was approached by police after they found a lighter with his fingerprints on it at a neighbour's property. Pre-sentencing reports showed Sullivan had suffered extreme abuse as a child, both by family members and in institutions. He had a history of anti-social behaviour from an early age and was considered to be at high risk of reoffending. A psychiatric report showed he had once been diagnosed as suffering psychotic episodes, but there was no mental disorder at the time of the offending, Judge Thomas said.

Since 2002 Sullivan has amassed 22 convictions, mostly for alcohol-related offending. Sullivan's lawyer Chris Stevenson said in written submissions his client had never really had a chance to live a completely functional life, Judge Thomas said. Mr Stevenson suggesting a sentencing starting point of 2 years 6 months jail. Crown prosecutor Jo Murdoch emphasised the magnitude of the victim's loss and the emotional damage she suffered, also Sullivan's previous convictions, the premeditation and involvement of gang members. The crown recommended a starting point of 6-8 years' imprisonment. At the time of the attack, Sullivan was still subject to a sentence of supervision following his release from jail, Judge Thomas said. In mitigation, Sullivan pleaded "relatively promptly" and saved the victim from having to go through a trial.

There were suggestions the incident was gang-related, Judge Thomas said. She accepted there were people who influenced Sullivan to carry out the offending. However, she told Sullivan he still had to take responsibility for what he had done, sentencing him to three years and nine months' jail. After the sentencing, Mrs Nancarrow said she felt numb and wished the incident had never happened in the first place. "It's been an awful ordeal for both my family and me," Mrs Nancarrow said. "I'm just lucky I had my legs to run," she said, adding athlete John Walker would have been proud of her. Mrs Nancarrow said she has returned to her refurbished unit and was settling back into life there. "Some people thought I shouldn't come back but it's been my home for the past nine years."

Alias

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Date of Birth

Born 1985

Offences

Arson of a 77 year old Redwood womans home in September 2006 Had 22 previous since 2002, mostly for alcohol related offending

Current Location

At large, last known to be in Wellington

Three Strikes Status

0

Victims

**Suppressed**

Offender Affiliations

.

Gang Affiliations

none known

Parole

Sentenced to 3 years 9 months in May 2007Eligible for parole August 2008